The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash 4)

Emil turned to the table. “Would anyone else like a glass?”

There were nods from all except Aylard and the female Atlantian. As Emil poured, Kieran dipped his head toward mine. “The wolven is Lizeth Damron. The general between her and Sven is Odell Cyr,” he advised quietly, referring to an Atlantian with dark hair and skin that reminded me of the beautiful, smoky quartz Duchess Teerman liked to wear in her rings. “The one standing with Aylard is Lord Murin—a changeling.”

That was one of the males I had felt distrust from. “The female beside Murin?” I asked as Emil handed Valyn a glass of wine.

“That’s Gayla La’Sere.”

I turned to him as my gaze met Vonetta’s and said in a low voice, “La’Sere and Murin do not trust us.”

“Noted,” Vonetta murmured, her attention fixing on them.

Stepping forward, I affixed what I hoped was a welcoming smile on my face and not false like it felt. “I imagine all of you must be tired from traveling, but there is a lot we need to discuss. Namely, our plans regarding Oak Ambler.”

“Our plans?” Murin queried. His eyes were a fascinating color—sea glass. “I was unaware that plans had already been made, Your Highness. Then again, we were also unaware that you’d seized Massene.”

“Which is why I hope none of you are too fatigued from travel so we can discuss these plans,” I replied, his answering annoyance prickling against my skin. I met his stare. “This upsets you, which I can understand,” I told him, now tasting his icy surprise. He’d either forgotten what I could do or hadn’t expected me to use the ability. “But we could not wait to take Massene. They were turning innocent mortals, and they killed three of the wolven. Not only that, the Blood Crown has your King. We don’t have time to waste.”

“No, we don’t.” Valyn lowered his glass as Murin’s jaw hardened. “What are these plans?”

“We know that Oak Ambler is a vital port city for Solis. Goods are shipped there and then transported to most of the northwestern cities since it’s far safer to move with such large cargo by sea rather than attempting to cross the Blood Forest.” I kept my hands clasped to stop them from trembling as I glanced at Hisa. The commander gave me a small nod of encouragement. “It’s also the largest city in the northwest, next to Masadonia and Three Rivers.”

“It is,” Valyn said. “Oak Ambler is a lifeline to the eastern regions of Solis.”

“We want to make sure they cannot use the ports for their armies. If we secure Oak Ambler and the coast along the Wastelands, they will be forced to take the slower route to defend any of their other cities,” I began. “Admittedly, I don’t know much about battle strategy, but I imagine that the Blood Crown will attempt to move their forces from Eastfall,” I said, referencing a district within Carsodonia where the soldiers and guards trained. “And from the Willow Plains, where the bulk of their armies are stationed.”

“But thanks to the Blood Queen, we know that they have several thousand Royal Knights,” Kieran tacked on. “Vamprys that will not be able to travel during the day. Because of that, it’s likely they will keep the knights at the capital, moving forces consisting of mortals and possibly Revenants through Niel Valley.”

Approval hummed from Lizeth as Hisa said, “Other than Pensdurth and Masadonia, which have ports, we will be able to control supply to the cities and prevent their fleets from entering. It will be far harder for them to launch an attack from sea than it will be for us to defend on land.”

Cyr nodded. “Agreed.”

“You say control supply,” Gayla said, creases forming between her brows. “Would we not be cutting off supplies to those cities, as well?”

I focused on her. “Cutting off supplies such as food and other necessities does nothing to aid us. We cannot starve them out. The Ascended are secure within the Rise with their food source. All that would do is harm the innocents, and I don’t believe any Atlantian wants that.”

“We don’t,” Sven confirmed as a deepening pinch to Gayla’s features appeared.

“But would that not create instability in the cities that we could then exploit?” Aylard suggested, and that earned sharp agreement from the changeling, Murin. “Force the mortals to stand up for themselves and turn on the Ascended?”

“How many mortals do you know who have lived the majority of their lives under the Ascended’s rule?” I asked.

Aylard frowned. “I don’t believe I know many, but I don’t see what that has to do with wanting the mortals to fight for their freedom as fiercely as we will fight for them.”

“Perhaps you believe the mortals won’t fight the Blood Crown.” Murin’s gaze moved over my features, lingering on the left side of my face—on the scars. It used to bother me when someone saw them for the first time, but that was before I’d come to understand that they represented strength and survival—two things far more important than flawless skin. “I imagine you would know, as you spent the majority of your life as one of them.”